The Great Dichotomy: Breast Cancer Versus Prostate Cancer

Only very recently have a few men begun to wonder why so much attention is paid to breast cancer research and awareness, but relatively little by comparison to prostate cancer.  That breast cancer is a serious health issue is not in question. Over 40,000 American women succumb to the disease annually, and one in eight will contract breast cancer during her lifetime.  Breast cancer is the third leading cause of death among women, behind heart disease and lung cancer, respectively. Still, the statistics for prostate cancer are sobering, with one in six men’s being affected –one in four for black men- and nearly 30,000 dying each year. When prostate cancer is in its early stages, there are virtually no symptoms.  But the time, effort and money spent on fighting breast cancer versus fighting prostate cancer is anything but proportional.

Last year, the United States government spent $699 million for breast cancer research, compared to $390 million for prostate cancer.  A more equitable disbursement might be $699 million and $468 million. The disparity is not solely economic, though.  Commercials, public service announcements, news segments and magazine articles address the issue of breast cancer, but rarely touch upon health issues affecting men.  Millions of cars’ bumpers sport pink ribbon decals, symbolizing breast cancer awareness.  Since 1985, October has officially been Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Numerous national organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation work tirelessly to ensure that breast cancer is at the forefront of medical research, and fundraisers such as their annual Race for the Cure, as well as countless other benefits on state and local levels, collect millions more in research dollars.  Fundraisers and events for prostate cancer are rare, at best.